HOSPITAL consultants are being “disenfranchised” as they feel “overworked and undervalued,” leading medics warned today.

The Royal College of Physicians, Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh and Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow urged the new government to do more to retain senior hospital doctors.

Almost half of NHS consultants polled by the colleges across Britain said their enjoyment in their job has decreased over the last year, and 39 per cent said they have an excessive workload almost all or most of the time.